Anglian Water Fulling Mill International Final 2007

Rutland Water hosted a fantastic final of the Anglian Water Fulling Mill International. Twenty five teams of six anglers fished this event – the largest boat fishing competition in European fly-fishing.  Reaching the final was a huge achievement with each team battling it out in heats and regional finals fished at top venues throughout the UK.  Several teams had a very long journey to Rutland coming from Belgium, France, Northern Ireland and from all over the UK.

Following the weigh in on Day One competitors realised they had everything to fish for as the leading teams were divided by the narrowest of margins. Scottish team Neilston Flyfishers weighed in with 29 fish for 64lb 7/8oz ahead of Hanningfield in second place with 31 fish for 62lb 11¾oz.  Blagdon FF Bristol Water were in close pursuit in third place with 26 fish for 62lb 7oz.

On Day Two the weigh in was incredibly tense with stories of big fish and changing fortunes. Blagdon FF Bristol Water maintained their consistent form and took second slot on day two behind Soldier Palmers Team 1. Neilston Flyfishers could manage only 6^th place with Hanningfield in 10th.  Improving on their performances on day one were Ospreys in third and Iain Barr Fishing Team Red Bull 1 in fourth.

Before announcing the eventual winners at the presentation dinner, Anglian Water’s fishery manager Jon Marshall, revealed just how close the 2007 result was. The total weight of fish caught over the two days was 2109lb 8oz with less than 3 ounces separating the winning team from the runners-up. Ian McKenzie, representing sponsors Fulling Mill, presented the coveted silver salver and gold medals to the 2007 champions the Soldier Palmers, with Blagdon FF Bristol Water taking silver and Neilston Flyfishers bronze. 

Michael Rose fishing for Soldier Palmers says his army colleagues are delighted and he has already received messages of congratulation from far and wide. Many different members have represented the Soldier Palmers over the years and it is a great achievement for them “We have got a team through to the final every year since Anglian Water began running this great competition. But we’ve never been in the medals before so it’s fantastic to win.”

Jon Marshall, congratulated everyone who took part in this year’s event and said “we saw some outstanding individual performances over the two days.  One of the most notable was Neilston Flyfisher’s Tam Burnett who took his 8 fish limit on both days.  Whilst Steve Winston of Team Tightlines weighed in his 8 fish limit of 24lb 11¼oz on day one by 12.55.  Campbell Baird of Team Woodford Greys took the best fish of the match at 7lb 10 5/8oz.”

Plans for 2008 are well under way and we are delighted to announce the continued support and sponsorship from Fulling Mill.

AWFMI Results

Day one

Best rainbow   Campbell Baird 4lb 5½oz

                        Brian McKenzie 3lb 13lb 7/8oz

Best brown      Campbell Baird Team Woodford Greys 7lb 10 5/8oz

Top rod            Steve Winstone Team Tightlines 24lb 11¼oz

Day two

Best rainbow   Gareth Davis 5lb 14_ ¼oz

Best brown      John Horsey Ospreys 6lb 1 3/8oz

Top rod            Stephen O’Neill 19lb 7 7/8oz

Top rod over 2 days

Tam Burnett of Neilston FF with 8 fish on each day for 35lb 15¼oz

WaterAid Trophy for heaviest fish throughout the competition

Charlie Mitchell with a 13lb 9oz brown caught at Stocks

Overseas Trophy

Team Woodford Greys of Northern Ireland were overseas winners.

Full results were:

1^st        Soldier Palmers Team 1                     57 fish for 129lb 13 3/8oz

2^nd       Blagdon FF Bristol Water                    52 fish for 129lb 10 5/8oz

            3^rd        Neilston Flyfishers                              53 fish for 116lb 5oz

            4^th        Iain Barr Fishing Team Red Bull1       54 fish for 114lb 11 5/8oz

            5^th        Ospreys                                              44 fish for 113lb 8 7/8oz

            6^th        Hanningfield                                        54 fish for 111lb 13oz

            7^th        Team Tightlines                                  42 fish for 106lb 13 ¼oz

            8^th        Change Fly Fishers ‘A’                        48 fish for 98lb 15 1/8oz

            9^th        Masterline Stocks B                            45 fish for 96lb 3/8oz

            10^th      Wye Knots                                          44 fish for 93lb 15 ¼oz

            11^th      Welsh Hawks                                      42 fish for 91lb 11 4/7oz

            12^th      A.C.A                                                  39 fish for 82lb 3 7/8oz

            13^th      Team Woodford Greys                       34 fish for 78lb 4 1/8oz

            14^th      Airflo Rutland Raiders             37 fish for 75lb 13 1/8oz

            15^th      Leslie Llanilar                                      35 fish for 74lb 15 5/8oz

            16^th      Team Sunburst                                   35 fish for 72lb 7 ½oz

            17^th      R.A.S.C/British Legion                        33 fish for 68lb 2 7/8oz

            18^th      Froggies Fly Fishers (3F)                    31 fish for 64lb 3 ¾oz

            19^th      Thack Ac                                            30 fish for 62lb 15oz

            20^th      Nymph-a-Maniacs                              32 fish for 62lb 6½oz

            21^st      Team Wellbank                                   31 fish for 61lb 6 5/8oz

            22^nd     Brenig Badgers                                   31 fish for 61lb 6oz

            23^rd      Orvis Team Rutland                           25 fish for 51lb 6 1/8oz

            24^th      Emerald Islanders                               25 fish for 46lb 10 7/8oz

            25^th      Fly Fishing for Fun Belgium                22 fish for 43lb 12oz

Rutland Water

fish for week 2599 (season33172) returns 832 (10830)  rod average 3.12(3.06)

October is a popular month for matches at Rutland Water.  Having hosted the successful Anglian Water Fulling Mill International we move on to the four man lochstyle event on Wednesday 17 October followed by the George Moore rudder match on Saturday 20 October. The George Moore trophy is a pairs rudder match fished 9am to 5pm.  Plans are also underway for the Rutland Challenge – more details to be announced.  To enter any of our competitions please call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441

best rainbow                           5lb 14½oz taken by Gareth Davis fishing for the Welsh Hawks in Anglian Water Fulling Mill International

best brown                              8lb 10oz taken by Rick Broome, 7lb 10 5/8oz taken by Campbell Baird of Team Woodford Greys fishing the Anglian Water Fulling Mill International

best boat areas                       bottom of the south arm (Manton Bay, Lax Hill to Browns Island and off the Sailing Club in front of the fishing lodge)

best bank areas                      Old Hall Point, Yellowstone, Cardiac Hill, New Zealand Point

best methods                          bank – floating line with nymphs, black.  Lures, fry patterns (minkies etc)

                                               boat – nymphs, diawl bach, hares ear, pheasant tail, small boobies, cormorants, gold/silver sparklers

mid week boat winner            J Martin of  Penrith

forthcoming events                Beginners courses 11 & 24 November

                                               Pike boat fishing with lures and dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes Lamprey) 8 October – 31 October

                                               Anglian Water Lochstyle 4 man team Wed 17 October

                                               Anglian Water Rudder Match (George Moore Memorial Trophy) 20 October

                                               call the fishing lodge on 01780 686441 to book